Sophia College for Women
(Empowered Autonomous)
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J. N. Heredia Counseling Center
About the J.N. Heredia Counselling Centre

The Sophia-J.N. Heredia Centre for Counseling provides free, confidential counselling services to all students at Sophia College (Autonomous). Our mission is to support the holistic well-being of students, helping them develop into well-rounded individuals equipped to face life's challenges.

The transition to adulthood is filled with new experiences and challenges, often extending beyond academic pressures. Students must navigate academic adjustments—such as managing new subjects, overcoming procrastination, and balancing workloads—as well as social dynamics related to family, friends, and personal relationships. Any challenge, no matter its source, can impact overall well-being.

At the Centre, students can explore these challenges in a supportive environment with a trained professional. Whether the issue is big or small, counselling provides a safe space for self-expression, growth, and change. The focus is on helping students reflect, find solutions, and gain control over difficulties they encounter.

Services Offered at the Counselling Centre
  • Individual Counselling

    Students can schedule one-on-one therapy sessions either by appointment or by dropping in for immediate concerns. For cases requiring specialized support, the Centre connects students and their guardians with external resources.

  • Workshops

    The Centre conducts workshops on topics like self-esteem, time management, and assertiveness to reach a broader student audience. Additionally, our resource room offers self-help guides and books on mental health, self-improvement, and life skills.

  • Group Sessions

    Regular group sessions are offered on various themes, including therapeutic journaling, stress management, and team bonding, aimed at fostering peer support and enhancing coping strategies.

  • Guardian Guidance

    The Centre provides guidance to guardians, helping them navigate their ward’s mental health challenges and college-related pressures. Counsellors collaborate with guardians to create a supportive environment for students’ well-being and success.

  • Other Offerings

    The Centre conducts periodic surveys to assess student needs and refine its services, ensuring that support remains relevant and effective.

How to Reach Us

Students can contact us at counselling.centre@sophiacollege.edu.in to book an appointment or inquire about our services. The Centre operates during regular working hours and is available to all current Sophia College students.

Faculty
Dr Jennie Mendes – Dalmia Professor Emeritus 2019

Her main interests are Clinical Psychology, World Cinema and the Theory of Indian Classical Dance with special reference to Kathak. M.Phil Dissertation: A Study on the “Initiation of Flight Activity in Drosophila melanogaster - An Experimental Approach to Animal Behaviour” Doctoral Thesis: “The Phenomenology, Etiology and the Possible Clinical Significance of Certain Stereotypies.” She has published 42 research articles and 13 popular articles. She has completed 5 research projects and has presented 30 papers at national and international conferences. She has translated and standardized a Stigma Scale for Mental Illness for the Konkani-speaking population. She has edited the book: “Readings in Psychology: Enhancing Human Potential” (Allied Publishers, 2006). She is in-charge of the Sophia J. N. Heredia Counseling Centre. She was the Editor of the “Bombay Psychologist”-A Journal of the Bombay Psychological Association for 9 years. She has initiated the CUE-MH (Collaborative Undergraduate Education in Mental Health) to create hubs and notes in different parts of the country for action research. She currently holds the Emeritus Professor position

Papers published for the Centre
  • • Exhaustive Survey on the Mental Health Concerns of Students in Goa and their Perception of the use/awareness of the counseling services (2019).EDU WORLD A Multidisciplinary International Peer Reviewed/Refereed Journal.2019 Vol VIII No 3 pps 154-162. (Dalmia Emeritus Professor Chair Project)
  • • Jennie Mendes (2013).Mental health concerns of young women: Working model of a counseling centre in an urban women’s college. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, pp553-555 Vol4(3)
  • • Jennie Mendes (2012). The stressors and mental health concerns of young women: Case study of a counseling center in an urban women’s college. Abbe Faria PG Dept of Psychology, St Xavier’s College Goa
  • • Manuel, W. & Jennie Mendes. (2007). Adolescents their Emotions Concerns and support systems. Bombay Psychologist, Vol XXII, Nos 1&2.
Sukrutee Bhosale – Counsellor

Sukrutee Bhosale is a practising counsellor and art therapist. With a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Art Therapy, she specialises in arts-based interventions to help students overcome mental health challenges. Sukrutee leads workshops, group sessions, and individual counselling with compassion and professionalism, aiming to create a safe space for personal growth.


Facility
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